Where Do Ethics And Morals Come From Essay Samples

The terms moral and ethics are used interchangeably. However, both of these terms are based on the individual’s religious, social and personal upbringing. On many occasions, one may find that morals are influenced by an individual’s personal values system about good or evil behavior, whereas ethics refers to questions of right and wrong deeds. In essence, morality goes beyond the norms of the culture, but ethics reflects the professional and lawful principles that exist in a particular place and time. Morality results in a standard of ethical behavioral patterns as they relate to the particular time and place. Three examples of my ethical and moral values are important are lies and deception, murder and theft. The fact is that ethical and moral issues involve the idea of telling the truth, murder, and theft, in personal situations and in the world of management. These ethical and moral concerns are based on my religious principles, value system, and the societal standards surrounding these moral and ethical principles.
My personal value system dictates that deception is wrong, but there are those who argue that deception is inevitable in the world of work. Employers often offer jobs that are based on false promises, false wage packages, and false duties to perform, and as such the new employee faces a dilemma when he or she reports for work. In many cases, a new employee may find that he or she is doing far more work than was first stipulated and is working for a salary that is below the minimum wage. In my perspective, this form of deception borders on lies and this is morally and ethically wrong. Lies are an abomination onto the creator, yet, they are practiced in many areas in the society. However, in an effort to earn more profit in the business, it is ethically sound. The Bible teaches truth and honesty as morally correct. But, the society often goes against the moral teaching of the society and leans towards the external values of financial gains at any cost. The fact is that the company has the ethical and moral responsibility to stick to truth.
Theft is another issue of moral and ethical debate. When is it right to steal? I have often asked this question, as morally it is wrong to steal, but what if the situation arose where I had to steal in order to survive. Of course there would be no doubt as to the ethical principles to this action. The moral of stealing food to save a child from hunger is acceptable, but stealing is morally wrong. However, if it means that stealing will provide a better way of life then it would be difficult to choose what is morally right against what is ethically right.
In concluding, society is controlled by both religious and cultural ethical and moral systems that define the society as a whole. Moral values can be compromised to meet the ethical standards of the society and this does not make the action wrong. The fact is societies differ on their ethical and moral values and principles and therefore leads to the conclusion that morals and ethics are based on the situation of the particular time. These principles create many debates as the different cultural beliefs and practices of the wider society will influence one’s views on what is right and what is wrong.